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    Re: ATTENTION: To Kip Getting Relevant Work Experience as an A.T. Archived Message

    Posted by DC on May 18, 2009, 8:33 pm, in reply to "Getting Relevant Work Experience"

    Hi, Kip I would like to weigh in my own opinion when it comes to shadowing for 8 hours with an MDA, DOA, AA-C, CRNA vs. working as an Anesthesia Technician (AT/CER.AT). You can sit in on the cases with the MDA, DOA, AA-C, CRNA, ask questions about the patient and learning anesthesia at the same time from each provider and mid-level provider. Now that's what I call "Shadowing".

    I have to agree with greatAA as he/she stated who convinced you that you had to work as a RT, RN, CNA, AT in order to impress admissions committees. Keep in mind whether you have allied health care experience or nursing experience you are still required to have so many hours of classroom/laboratory education, so many hours of clinical anesthesia education and administer so many anesthetics, during all types of surgical and diagnostic procedures.

    Just as Prospective AA stated becoming an respiratory therapist is a minimum of an associate degree (18 to 24 months).

    If your so set on having (direct patient contact) hands on clinical and technical experience in my opinion I would become an anesthesia technician (AT) vs. CNA, PCT, or ST (surgical technologist). Why? as an anesthesia technician or certified anesthesia technician you have direct patient contact meaning you work under the supervision of an MDA or DOA, (provider), AA-C or CRNA (mid-level provider).

    The vast majority of ATs jobs are in-house training (on the job training) vs. attending an anesthesia technology schools across the nation (not many though but that is changing more are expected to open soon in the future for ATs) ATs can obtain a certification (12-24 months), diploma (12-24 months), associate of science degree (18-24 months) and a bachelor's of science degree (48-60 months) in anesthesia technology.

    As an AT/CER.AT depending on what state you reside in or hospital you work at you can perfrom the following (technical and clinical) skills whether it's in or out of their scope of practice under direct supervision or at the discretion of an MDA or DOA and/or an AA-C/CRNA ;

    A) Set up room for cases such as, attach circuit on anes. machine, calibrate anes. machine, perform leak test on anes. machine, check oxygen (Green), air (Yellow) and nitrous (Blue) tanks to make sure all are full and working properly (back of anes. machine).

    B) Check soda lime on anes. machine, refill gases on anes. machine such as, sevoflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane.

    C) Set up ET tube (endotracheal) cuff and uncuffed, Double Lumen Endobronchial Tube, RAE (Oral), Reinforced and Laser, appropriate size from neonate to large adult, stylet, and syringe 10cc, 5cc, and 3cc.

    D) Laryngoscope handles, blades, Macintosh (Curved) and Miller (Straight), Oropharyngeal Airway (All are measure by Length) and Mask range from neonate to large adult.

    E) Suction apparatus is properly working, jet ventilator is properly working, OJ or NG tube, connect patient to monitors, EKG, BP Cuff, Pulse Oximeter, ECG and esophageal temperature probe (Oral).

    F) Assist in performing cricoid pressure on patient during induction.

    G) Start IV's, and/or Arterial line.

    H) identify and set up pre-mixed pharmaceutical solutions, hang fluids by gravity, operate infusion pumps, operate IMED pumps, and identify pharmaceuticals in the supply cart (medication).

    I) Draw and administer medication, check blood products PRBC, FFP, PLT, Cryo, operate auto transfusion machines (Level One and FMS), operate IABP (Intro Aortic Balloon Pump) and Cell Saver Machine.

    J) Assist in Difficult Intubation and understand what contributes to a Difficult Intubation.

    K) Set up, assist and understand Malignant Hyperthermia (MH).

    L) Set up, assist, and understand floating Swan-Ganz Catheter PA, SVO2, CI, and CO etc.

    M) Becoming ACLS certified (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS certified (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) FACT.

    N) Understanding PEEP (pressure), CO2 and tidal volume lung/respiratory.

    The list goes on and on as I have said before in my past postings it makes sense for an AT/CER.AT/CER.ATT who already have an Bachelor's of Science degree or B.A. degree with several years of technical and clinical skills specializing in Anesthesia Technology who already works in the ACT = AT, BS, AT, BA, CER.AT, BSc., CER.ATT, BHSc. = AA-C (Medical Anesthetist) Masters degree 2-2.5 vs. going CRNA route (Nurse Anesthetist) Masters degree 5.5-6 years.

    It's called common sense both are doing the same job in the ACT model under the medical direction and/or supervision of both Physicians MDA and DOA.

    I hope I have answered your questions and have help you in some way in deciding what route to take in gaining hands on experience (1 year experience in anesthesia technology would look good on your application along with your GPA, MCAT or GRE scores for AA program).

    Good luck I wish you the best in your future endeavors as a Medical Anesthetist, AA-C .

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